Sheet metal receptacle



2 sheets-sheet' 1 Filed July 24, 1935 Jac'ules LSE-'01u72 060136 505er June 18, 1935. J, sTANlTz Er AL 2,005,641

SHEET METAL RECEPTACLE Filed July 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @magy/M u Y dffouwqd.

Patented `lune 18, V1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET METAL RECEPTACLE Application July 24, 1933, Serial No. 681,832

10 Claims.

The invention relates to sheet metal receptacles; and more particularly the invention relates to a. sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side walls all formed or drawn from a single piece or blank o f sheet or plate metal, and having a series of grooves, channels, furrows, flutes, and the like, forming ribs, corrugations and the like, extending upwards in the side walls of the receptacle from an intermediate portion of a curved corner wall provided between the integral bottom and side walls; and this application is a continuation in part of the common subject matter contained in our copending appli- 'cation entitled Tub for washing machine, led December 7, 1932, Serial No. 646,208. l

Such receptacles may be used for many purposes, but the same are especially adapted for use as tubs for power-driven, rotary-oscillatingagitator equipped washing machines. It is desirable that such tubs be covered with a vitreous enamel coating, and although enamel coated tubs With corrugated side walls have been made, diliculties have been encountered in connection with prior types of such tubs.

Tubs for washing machines have been proposed in which `the side walls are -corrugated and in which the tubs are made with integral bottom and side walls. However, the corrugations in such tubs do not extend entirely to and merge 30 ,into the corner wall between the side walls and bottom wall; but the lower ends of the corrugations stop short of the corner wall, leaving an annular recess thereunder.

When such tubs are used in Washing machines having power-driven, rotary-oscillating-agitators the annular recess at the bottom of the tub forms an obstruction or resistance to the Water forced outwards along the bottom wall and prevents a maximum amount of the same from risreducing the efficiency of the washing machine.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a sheet metal receptacle adapted for 4 use as a tub for a washing machine, which has the like, forming ribs, corrugations, and the like, in the side walls of the receptacle, and in which no annular recess is present in the tube below the ends of the ribs or corrugations, as by extending the ribs or corrugations to and merging the same into a curved corner wall provided between the tub bottom and side walls.

Tubs for washing machines have also been proposed in which the side walls are corrugated, to which side walls a bottom wall is seamed or othering vertically upwards along the side walls, thus a series of grooves, channels, furrows, flutes, andv (ci. 22o-72)4 wise secured.' However, the formation of a seam between the side walls and bottom wall of such a tub, or the securing of the tub side and bottom Walls together by any other means, prevents a satisfactory, uniform, attractive and efficient 5 vitreous enamel coating from being applied to the tub, particularly at the place where the side and bottom walls are secured together.

It is therefore a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side Walls all formed from a single piecel or blank of sheet or plate metal, which has a series of grooves, and the like, forming ribs, corrugations, and the like, in the side walls thereof extending upwards in the side walls from an intermediate portion of a curved corner Wall provided between the integral bottom and side walls.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom. and side walls, the side walls having grooves therein extending upwards from an intermediate portion of a curved corner wall provided between the integral bottom and sid-e walls, i the grooves having a uniform contour throughout their length, the low point of the grooves having a uniform depth throughout the extent of the grooves, the grooves having either an equal or a varying length, and any element' of the grooves lying in a vertical plane or in a vertical cylindrical surface.

And finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide sheet metal receptacles having corrugated side walls, which have pleasing, attractive and distinctive appearances, which may be formed and corrugated by simple drawing operations in an inexpensive manner, and which may thereafter be provided with a uniform vitreous enamel coating.

These and other objects may be obtained by the sheet metal receptacles, constructions, arrangements and elements hereinafter described in detail and claimed, preferred embodiments of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, which may be stated in general terms as including in a sheet metal receptacle, integral bottom and side walls with a curved corner. wall therebetween formed from a single piece or blank of sheet or plate metal, there being a series of preferably uniformly spaced continuous grooves, channels, furrows, flutes, and the like in said side walls forming continuous ribs, corrugations, and the like, preferably protruding inwardly into the receptacle, said grooves having uniform contour throughout their length and extending upwards 50 1 and 3 wherein the same is utilized as a tub for in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner wall.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away and in section, of one embodiment of improved sheet metal receptacle, utilized as a tub for a washing machine, a usual type of washing machine agitator being shown therein;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the improved sheet metal receptacle shown in Fig. 1, part of the same being broken away and in section as on the line 2 2, Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower corner of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which the side wall corrugations merge into an intermediate portion of the curved corner wall, taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of an improved receptacle embodying a modified form of side wall corrugations;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the corrugated side wall of the receptacle shown in Fig. 4, taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the curved corner wall of the receptacle shown in Fig. 4, taken on the line 6 6, Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an improved receptacle embodying side wall corrugations of varying length;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the corrugated side wall of the receptacle shown in Fig. 7, taken on the line 8 8, Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view if the curved corner Wall of the receptacle shown in'Fig. 7, taken on the line 9 9, Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of an improved receptacle embodying helical side wall corrugations;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the vcorrugated side wall of the receptacle shown in Fig. 10, taken on the li'ne II I I, Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the curved corner wall of the receptacle shown in Fig. 10, taken on the line I2 I2, Fig. 10.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the variousgures of the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved sheet metal receptacle is indicated generally at I3 i Figs.

a power driven washing machine (not shown) having a usual rotary oscillating agitator I 8.

The receptacle I3 includes a bottom wall I5, preferably cylindrical side walls I5, integral with the bottom wall, and there being a curved corner wall I'I extending from the place I8 wherel it merges with the bottom wall I5 to the place I9 where it merges with the side walls I 6 (Fig. 2).

The bottom wall I5, when the receptacle is utilized as a washing machine tub, may be provided with any suitable drain opening 20; and a portion of the bottom Wall I5 is preferably offset at 2| from the remainder thereof, adjacent to the agitator I, the offset portion 2I preferably being provided with an opening 22 through which the driving means for the agitator I 4 is connected with the agitator.

The upper exremities of the side walls I6 are preferably provided with an annular groove 23 and preferably terminate in an outwardly downturned bead 24 when the receptacle is used as a tub for a washing machine.

A series of preferably uniformly spaced continuuous grooves, channels. furrows, flutes and the like, indicated at 25, are provided in the side walls of the receptacle extending upwards in the side =Walls from a portion 26 of the curved comer wall `intermediate the extremities I8 and I 9 of the curved corner wall (Fig. 3) to points spaced below the top of the side walls I6 and the groove 25 therein. The said grooves 25 thus form continuous ribs 21 in the side Walls I6 protruding inwardly into the receptacle I3, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and as, in'dicatedQthe grooves 25 have a uniform depth, width and contour in cross section throughout their extent.

Likewise, any element of any of the grooves 25 (Fig. 2) lies in a vertical cylindrical surface, from the intermediate portion 26 of the Vcurved corner wall where the grooves begin, to but not including the upper endsA 28 of the grooves 25 which are rounded outwardly as shown to merge into the side walls I6.

By this peculiar arrangement, which constitutes an important feature of the present invention, in which the bottom ends of the grooves 25 extend from an intermediate portion of the curved corner wall I'I, the formation of an annular recess within the container lying beneath the ends of the corrugations is avoided, such a recess, however, being present above the upper ends 28- of the grooves 25, as indicated at 29 in the drawings.

When the improved receptacle is used as a washing machine tub, the elimination of a recess below the ends of the corrugations, and the merging of the lower ends of the corrugations into the curved corner wall enables a maximum amount of the water thrown outwards along the bottom wall by the agitator to round the curved cerner wall and -to flow upward along vthe tub side walls, thus producing maximum washing efficiency.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6, another embodiment of improved sheet metal receptacle II3 is shown, which is identical in all respects with the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, excepting that the spaced parallel Vertical grooves |25, which extend upwards in the side walls I I6 from an intermediate portion |26 of the curved corner wall II 'I to points spaced below the top of the side walls II6, are compound grooves and comprise preferably substantially flattened portions I 25a and a curved portion I 25h. A

Another modified form of improved receptacle 2I3 is shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, which is identical in all respects with that shown in the preceding figures of the drawings, excepting only that the spaced grooves 225, which extend upwards in the side walls 2I6 from an intermediate portion 226 of the curved corner wall 2I`I thereof to points spaced below the top of-the side walls 2I6, have a varying length as best shown in Fig. 7.

Still another modified form of iniprovedreceptacle is shown at 3I3 in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, and the same is similar in all respects with the forms of the invention shown in the preceding figures of the drawings, excepting only that the grooves 325 which extend upwards in the side walls 3I6 of the receptacle from an intermediate portion 326 of the curved corner wall 3I I to points spaced below the top of the side Walls 3I6, are partlfierebetween". Aagseries of spaced continuous .grooves in said sidewalls forming continuous ribs A "ther`ein,fsaidugrooves beginning at andextending Y' upwards in said side walls from an intermediate 25, 1933, aecjordingto the method see forth m our copending application led July 24, 1933, Serial No. 681,833, entitled Method of corrugating sheet metal receptacles, maturing in Patent No. 2,003,981, dated June 4, 1935, as by drawing a suitable receptacle with cylindrical side walls, an integral bottom wall and a curved corner wall therebetween in suitable dies from a single blank of metal, and then forming spaced grooves in the side walls extending upwards from an intermediate portion of the corner wall to points 'spaced below the top of the side walls, by telescoping the receptacle blank upon a groove male die having outer bounding surfaces conforming to the inner surfaces of the receptacle blank and by then relatively telescoping said male die with thel receptacle blank thereon in a female die having-rolling diev means corresponding to said male die grooves, for forcing the receptacle blank into the female die to form the grooves in the blank side walls progressively upwards from the curved corner wall thereof.

Accordingly, the present invention provides improved sheet metal receptacles having integral bottom and vertical side walls formed from a single piece of sheet metal having a series of grooves forming ribs extending upwards in the side walls of the receptacles from an 'intermediate portion of a curved corner wall provided between the bottom and side walls, without there being any annular recess present in the receptacles below the lower ends of the ribs or corrugations, which receptacles may be readily coated with a uniform and eiiicient vitreous enamel coating, and which receptacles have a pleasing, attractive and distinctive appearance, and may be made in an inexpensive manner.

The term sheet metal used herein and in the appended claims is intended to refer to sheet or plate metal according to the side wall thickness which it may be desired to provide. Likewise, it is not intended to limitv the scope of the pres- 'ent invention to receptacles made of sheet steel and provided with a vitreous enamel coating, because it is clear that the improved receptacles may be made from copper, stainless steel, or other desired metals.

The term grooves utilized broadly herein and in the appended claims, is intended to include channels, furrows, flutes, and the like of the desired cross sectional shape; it being clear that for particular purposes the contour of the grooves in cross section may have any desired shape so\ as to produce a serrated, ribbed or corrugated inner side wall surface for the receptacle.

While we have shown and described certain exnbodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of many modifications so long as the side wall grooves or ribs are continuous and extend upwards in the side walls from an intermediate portion of the curved corner wall between the integral bottom and side walls of l the receptacle. Changes, therefore. in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as disclosed in the appended claims.

l 1. Ina sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side walls with a curved corner Wall portion of said-icurved corner wall,` and the upper ends of said grooves merging into said side walls at points spaced below 'the top of said side walls.

2. In a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side walls with a curved corner wall therebetween, ,a series of spaced continuous 5 grooves in said side walls forming continuous ribs therein, said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said 'curved corner wall, and having a uniform contour in cross section throughout their extent, and the upper ends of said grooves merging into said side walls at points spaced below the top. of said side walls. v

3. In a sheet metal receptacle having intergral bottom and side walls with a curved corner wall therebetween, a series of uniformly spaced continuous grooves in said side walls forming continuous ribs therein protruding inwardly into the receptacle, said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner wall, and the upper ends of said grooves merging into said side walls at points spaced below the top of said side walls.

4. In a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side walls with a curved corner wall 25 therebetween, a series of spaced grooves in said side walls forming ribs therein, said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner wall and having a uniform depth and contour throughout their extent. .f

5. `In a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side walls with a curved corner wall therebetween, a series of spaced grooves in said side walls forming ribs therein protruding inwardly into the receptacle, said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner Wall, and having uniform depth and width throughout their extent. l

6. A sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and side walls with a curved corner wall therebetween, a series of spaced continuous grooves in said side walls forming continuous ribs therein, said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner wall, the upper ends of said -grooves merging into said side walls at points spaced below the top of said side walls,

grooves in said side walls forming ribs therein,

said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner wall and having a uniform contour in cross section throughout their extent, and any element of any of the grooves lying in a vertical cylindrical surface.

8. In a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and cylindrical side walls with a curved corner wall therebetween, a series of spaced parallel vertical grooves in said side walls forming ribs therein, said vertical grooves beginning at and extending upwards. in said side walls from any intermediate portion of said curved corner wall and having a uniform contour in cross section throughout their extent. f

9. In a sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and-.cylindrical side walls with a curved corner wall therebetween, aA series of spaced grooves in said side walls forming ribs therein, said grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls each from an intermediate portion of said curved corner wall and having a uniform contour in cross section throughout their extent, and the grooves being of varying length 10. In a, sheet metal receptacle having integral bottom and cylindrical side Walls with a. curved corner wall therebetween, a series of spaced parallel helical grooves in said side walls forming ribs therein, said helical grooves beginning at and extending upwards in said side walls from an intermediate portion of said curved corner Wall and having a uniform contour in cross section throughout their extent.

JACQUES STANITZ. GEORGE D. BOYER. 

